SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center offers free flu shots

St. Louis (KSDK) - St. Louis Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital will offer free seasonal flu shots to people age six months and older Saturday, November 3rd from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Free seasonal flu shots are available at the following locations while supplies last. No pre-registration is required.

Who should have a flu shot?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following adults be vaccinated each year:

•People at high risk for complications from the flu.
•People 65 years and older;
•People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses;
•Adults with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;
•Adults who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]);
•Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
•People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.)
•People 50 to 64 years of age. Because nearly one-third of people 50 to 64 years of age in the United States have one or more medical conditions that place them at increased risk for serious flu complications, vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 50 - 64 years.
•People who can transmit flu to others at high risk for complications. Any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group (see above) should get vaccinated. This includes all health-care workers, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children 0 to 23 months of age, and close contacts of people 65 years and older.

Can my child be vaccinated, too? Children 6-months and older can receive a vaccine. Please note that some locations do not offer pediatric doses for children 6 to 36 months.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the following guidelines for children:

•Influenza vaccination is recommended for all children aged 6 months to 5 years.
•Influenza vaccination is also of benefit to older children.
•If this is the first year your child is receiving the flu vaccine and he/she is under the age of 9 years, a second follow-up vaccine is required four weeks after the first dose for maximum effectiveness. (Only the first dose will be given at these clinics; you will need to see your primary healthcare provider for the follow-up vaccine).

Other FAQ's:

•FluMist and intra-dermal vaccines will NOT be available at the Free Community Flu Shot Clinics
•The vaccine does NOT contain thimerosal.
•A flu shot will NOT be given if a person has had an allergic reaction in the past, latex allergy, egg allergy or ever had Gullian-Barre Syndrome.
•A flu shot should NOT be given if a person currently has a fever or respiratory illness.